Locking means for lamp holder



y 1969 J. s. LAGANA 3,446,956

LOCKING MEANS FOR LAMP HOLDER Filed April 19, 1966 ANY LAMP HOLDER BUSH 3 LOCKS BULB ALLEN SET SCREW INVENTOR James S. Lugcl'na BYWW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,446,956 LOCKIYG MEANS FOR LAMP HOLDER James S. Lagana, Clinton, Md., assignor of twelve percent to George R. Douglas, Jr., Washington, DC. Filed Apr. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 543,628 Int. Cl. F21v 21/00 U.S. Cl. 24052 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lamp holder consists of an open-ended cylindrical housing in which an electrical socket having threads for receiving a bulb is mounted. An aperture extends radially through the wall of the housing. A resilient insulating bushing is secured in the aperture and a threaded member extends through and is threadedly secured in the insulating bushing.

The present invention relates to locking means for securing electric light bulbs in their lamp holders, and more particularly the invention is directed to a securing or locking means for rigidly and effectively maintaining a locking relation between a lamp holder and the lamp mounted therein.

In the prior art, it has been found that light bulbs are often vibrated loose, or are manually removed from lamp sockets by unauthorized personnel, so that the effectiveness of the lighting provided by such bulbs is not fulfilled. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a lamp holder having a threaded engaging member in the lamp holder for securing electrical plugs or electric lamps in place within the holder so that they may not be surreptitiously removed therefrom.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple, economical and easily operable locking mechanism to secure light bulbs in a lamp holder.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combination of a lamp holder, a bushing mounted in a peripheral aperture in the lamp holder, and a threaded member received within the bushing, all cooperative to secure a lamp in locking relation within the lamp holder.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

The figure shows a perspective view of a lamp holder including the bushing and threaded locking member embodying the preferred concept of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown a lamp holder 1 which is shown as an open-ended hollow cylindrical housing for receiving an electrical socket of conventional construction (not shown). Intermediate the electrical socket and the cylindrical housing there is usually provided a conventional insulating sleeve (not shown). The electrical socket is provided with the conventional threads for receiving an electric bulb or electrical plug, as is well known in the art. At the other end of the cylindrical housing is a closed end thereof which is adapted to be connected to a mounting pipe for supporting the electric lamp holder from a base or other conventional structure, as is well known.

In a peripheral portion along the lower extremity of the hollow cylindrical housing, there is provided an aperture extending through the housing so that it may receive a threaded member 2, which in the preferred embodiment of the invention, is an Allen screw, and may as well be a Phillips screw, and other types of threaded members, made of either metal or of plastic material. The threaded 3,446,956 Patented May 27, 1969 member 2 engages the sides of the aperture and by means of the threads of said threaded member 2, shown being turned in the tightening direction, which is usually the right-hand or clockwise direction, the threaded member then securely locks the housing to an electric bulb when such bulb, not shown, is disposed within said electrical socket.

It is within contemplation of the present invention to also provide an insulating bushing 3 for providing electrical insulation between the threaded member 2 and the housing 1 when they are made of metal or electrical conductive material.

The invention may also be used where an electric plug is inserted in the electrical socket, in lieu of the electric lamp as described above, and the invention is still practiced in accordance with the present disclosure and claims.

The hollow open-ended cylindrical housing may be made of metal as is conventionally done within the teaching of the prior art, or it may as well be made of a resilient plastic, so that electrical conductivity is not extended from the bulb or plug to the housing, and underwriters codes and other requirements of the industry may be satisfied.

The threaded member may be made of aluminum, or any other metal, or may as well be made of a non-conductive plastic material. While the aperture receives the bushing 3, it is seen that by inserting the threaded member 2 within the bushing and then tightening the threaded member therein, there is provided a substantial and effective locking means for retaining electrical lamps within the lamp holders.

The apparatus of the present invention is therefore essentially a locking means for a lamp holder and may be generally called Lock-A-Bulb.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp holder comprising an open-ended, hollow cylindrical housing for receiving an electrical socket having threads for receiving a bulb, said housing being adapted to be mounted from a pipe at the end opposite the open end thereof, an aperture extending through the hollow cylindrical housing in a generally radial direction, a resilient insulating bushing mounted in said aperture, and a threaded member threadedly received within said bushing for securely locking the housing to a bulb received within said electrical socket, said housing being of nonconductive plastic material, said bushing being constructed of resilient non-conductive material, and said threaded member being of non-conductive plastic material.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said threaded member is an Allen screw.

3. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said threaded member is a Phillips screw.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,160,063 11/1915 Gates et al. 33986 1,226,338 5/1917 Land 339-86 1,334,709 3/1920 Morey 339-86 2,424,009 7/1947 Woodward 240-52 X NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. MONROE H. HAYES, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 3 3983 

